Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 23, 2025 · Entertainment

Ozzy Osbourne's Craziest Moments: From Biting a Bat to Acid-Induced Equine Conversations

Ozzy Osbourne (pictured in 2022) was known for his wild antics both on and off stage and provided fans with some very memorable moments over the years

Ozzy Osbourne: The Prince of Darkness's Wildest Moments Revealed

The world is mourning the loss of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, who left behind a legacy of unforgettable and outrageous moments that will be etched in our collective memory forever. As we bid farewell to this metal icon, let's take a journey down memory lane and relive some of his most shocking, jaw-dropping, and side-splitting escapades.

Bat-Gate: The Infamous Incident That Launched Ozzy's Legend

His most infamous moment was arguably when he bit the head off a bat that had been thrown on stage during a solo performance in 1982

It was January 1982 when Ozzy Osbourne cemented his status as the Prince of Darkness. During a solo performance at the Des Moines Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Iowa, a concertgoer tossed a bat onto the stage, thinking it would be a wild and crazy stunt. Little did they know that Ozzy would take it to the next level by biting its head off! The audience watched in horror as his mouth filled with blood, but Ozzy insisted he thought the bat was a rubber toy.

But wait, there's more! Ozzy has been quoted saying, "For anyone out there who thinks it's 'cool'... and if you want to be a complete d**k, try it." And in a bizarre twist, he even started selling bat toys with removable heads! Talk about embracing the madness!

Dove-Gate: When Ozzy's Antics Went Too Far

His stomach¿churning antics with animals didn't stop there as he also came under fire for biting a dove's head off in 1981 (he is pictured in April 2011)

In 1981, Ozzy showed up at a meeting with music executives celebrating his new CBS Records deal. His plan was to release live doves into the air as a symbol of peace, but things took an unexpected turn when he got "p**ssed off" at one executive and ended up biting the head off a dove! He allegedly spat it on the table, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

Ozzy later claimed that the doves had died before his planned release, so he "bit its head off" rather than waste it. Whatever the truth may be, this incident cemented Ozzy's reputation as a wild card and earned him a permanent place in rock 'n' roll history.

Snorting Ants: The Wildest Stunt of Them All

Motley Crue's drummer Tommy Lee (pictured in 2023) claimed Ozzy snorted a trail of ants while on tour with Motley Crue back in 1984 - which the rocker has since confirmed to be true

In 1984, during his tour with Motley Crue, Ozzy snorted a trail of ants while on stage. Rumor has it that he had snorted live ants attracted to a melted ice lolly on the floor. Though fans were skeptical, Motley Crue's drummer Tommy Lee insisted it was true, and Ozzy himself set the record straight.

"I know people ask that all the time. They're like, 'Dude, really?' I'm like, 'Abso-fking-lutely. You can't make that st up,'" Ozzy said on his family podcast. His wife Sharon cast doubt on the story, but Ozzy's word is final: "I did it... I was drunk, and I did it."

Talking to a Horse While on Acid

Ozzy (pictured in 1997) famously gave up taking psychedelic drug LSD, also known as acid, in the 1970s after having an hour¿long conversation with a horse while on a trip

In his heyday, Ozzy was known for his experimental drug use. He confessed to taking 10 tabs of LSD at once and having an hour-long conversation with a horse while on the trip.

"At that time in America, people were very fond of lacing your drinks with acid," he recalled. "I didn't care. I used to swallow handfuls of tabs at a time... The end of it came when we got back to England."

Throwing Raw Meat: A Ritual of Mayhem

Anything could happen at a Black Sabbath show, and Ozzy took that to a whole new level in the 1980s when he threw raw meat at fans (he is pictured on stage in 1978)

After being kicked out of Black Sabbath in 1979 due to his substance abuse issues, Ozzy developed a ritual where he would throw raw meat at concertgoers. In response, fans would throw bizarre items they had snuck into the venues right back at him – leading to the infamous bat moment.

"It got to the point where people expected me to do crazier and crazier things," Ozzy admitted. "I always liked old movies that used to have these custard-pie fights... It gave me this idea to throw, instead of pie, bits of meat and animal parts into the audience."

Urinating on a War Memorial

Ozzy Osbourne famously sparked a major backlash when he urinated on a highly respected Texas war memorial at the height of his fame

In 1982, Ozzy sparked outrage when he urinated on The Alamo Cenotaph in Texas. He was banned from San Antonio for a decade and arrested for his actions.

However, Ozzy made amends by publicly apologizing and gifting $10,000 to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. In 2015, he even returned to the Alamo grounds to learn about its history and demonstrated humility and understanding.

At The Scholarly Note.com, we're deeply saddened by Ozzy's passing and acknowledge his journey from regret to reconciliation at the historic site. May he rest in peace.

Sources:

The Scholarly Note.com

Ozzy Osbourne's autobiography, "I Am Ozzy"

Interviews with Ozzy Osbourne and other musicians

Historical records and news articles